Steve predicts big futures for school surfers
New South Wales schools surfing team manager Steve Watts, pictured, believes there are more Mick Fannings and Stephanie Gilmores coming through the ranks.
Steve, a teacher at Southern Cross K-12 School at East Ballina, recently oversaw the NSW team’s convincing win in the national school surfing titles at Victor Harbour in South Australia.
It was his sixth year as manager and, apart from a loss in Western Australia in the first year, the NSW team has won every year since then.
Fanning and Gilmore, the current world champions, have been competitors in the school surfing national titles, and Steve believes that this year’s standout performers at the nationals – Laura Enever and Owen Wright – are well on the way to a professional career.
“Laura and Owen are right there to step up in the future – Owen is a goofy-footed Mick Fanning,” he said.
“Owen and Laura are the full package – they are intelligent and talented. They are already getting international exposure.”
Steve is keen to continue in his role as team manager and wants to play a part in building the profile of school surfing.
“Surfing is good for the mind and body,” he says.
Steve says the standard of surfing at school level is continually improving, thanks to surfboard design technology and modern training methods.
Stephanie Gilmore was a member of the New South Wales teams managed by Steve in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Her world title win in her rookie year on the pro circuit was a pleasant surprise for Steve.
“I was surprised that she won the world title so quickly, but she is an exceptional talent,” he said.
